US 12,271,864 B2
System and method for management of perpetual inventory values associated with nil picks
Greg A. Bryan, Centerton, AR (US); Cristy C. Brooks, Cassville, MO (US); David Blair Brightwell, Bella Vista, AR (US); Benjamin D. Enssle, Bella Vista, AR (US); Matthew A. Jones, Bentonville, AR (US); and Jesse L. Eaton, Springdale, AR (US)
Assigned to Walmart Apollo, LLC, Bentonville, AR (US)
Filed by Walmart Apollo, LLC, Bentonville, AR (US)
Filed on Oct. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/379,291.
Application 18/379,291 is a continuation of application No. 17/111,722, filed on Dec. 4, 2020, granted, now 11,816,628.
Application 17/111,722 is a continuation of application No. 15/914,763, filed on Mar. 7, 2018, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/471,412, filed on Mar. 15, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2024/0046205 A1, Feb. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. G06Q 20/00 (2012.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); G06Q 10/08 (2023.01); G06Q 10/087 (2023.01); B64U 101/00 (2023.01)
CPC G06Q 10/087 (2013.01) [B64U 10/13 (2023.01); G05D 1/0027 (2013.01); G05D 1/0276 (2013.01); G06Q 10/08 (2013.01); B64U 2101/00 (2023.01); B64U 2201/10 (2023.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system that is configured to manage the occurrence of nil picks in a retail store, the system comprising:
an electronic communication network;
a retail store coupled to the electronic communication network, the retail store presenting a desired product to customers, and wherein an indication of a nil pick is generated, the nil pick occurring when the desired product is not located in the retail store, the nil pick being generated when an automated device traverses or examines the store and fails to find the desired product, or when a human fails to find the desired product in the retail store;
a plurality of other retail stores coupled to the electronic communication network;
a control circuit coupled to the electronic communication network, the control circuit comprising electronic hardware, the control circuit being configured to:
block an adjustment to a perpetual inventory (PI) value of the desired product when a predetermined event occurs at the retail store, or when information that contradicts the validity of the nil pick is received from the retail store or from the plurality of other retail stores;
when the adjustment to the PI value of the desired product is not blocked, determine the adjustment based upon one or more of: item information associated with the product, sales data concerning the product at the retail store, supply chain information associated with the desired product, and sales data concerning the desired product at the plurality of other retail stores;
transmit the adjustment or an adjusted PI to a transceiver at the retail store.